Data Protection

New data protection rules are coming into force on 25 May 2018. We need to be sure that we as a church, and therefore all the groups we run, are compliant. Between us, we hold a lot of other people's personal information (data), on computers and on paper, so we all need to think about how we store this, how we use it, and how and when we destroy it.

If this might apply in any way to your role at St Mary's, please read our new Data Privacy Notice which gives more information.

Please then look at the Group Data Audit sheet, a simple grid to help you think through your responsibilities in the light of this new legislation. Please ask Church Secretary, Heather Ursell, if you have any questions, or if you need advice or paper copies.

The third step towards compliance will be to seek agreement from people whose data we already hold, as to how that information may be used. Our Consent Form will be completed by some groups of people who come under our church umbrella, for whom group leaders (and not the church office) hold contact details. As far as possible, from now on we will add in opportunity for consent to be given, regarding storage and use of data, at the point at which people provide their details.

We thank you for your support in this significant task for us all, but please don't be daunted; it's for everyone's protection.